Well it was not the M Sport, I drove the Demo 330D MS touring and it was outstanding, so Honest john can go f*** himself as regards review, most reviews are 5 minute drives anyway and almost always garbage feed-back.

There’s 258PS available from the 3.0-litre straight-six and an impressive 560Nm of torque. It’s a little gruff when pushed hard but otherwise sounds subdued and hushed, helped by a silky smooth 8-speed automatic gearbox that provides swift acceleration. Getting from 0-62mph takes 5.6 seconds and the top speed is limited to 155mph.

Blimey, they make it sound like 0-62 in 5.6 secs to be "routine". No praise or mention for the fantastic performance.
Did they really drive the car, or did they re-write someone else's article as someone mentioned on here the other day.

Blimey, they make it sound like 0-62 in 5.6 secs to be "routine". No praise or mention for the fantastic performance.
Did they really drive the car, or did they re-write someone else's article as someone mentioned on here the other day.

Well at least the writer thinks that it is OK for a 6 foot person to sit behind another 6 footer

The car pictured is the same one as was in last weeks "Autocar" review and looks like a manual four cylinder model.
The fact it talks so little about the performance of the car makes me suspicious as to whether they drove it.

The car pictured is the same one as was in last weeks "Autocar" review and looks like a manual four cylinder model.
The fact it talks so little about the performance of the car makes me suspicious as to whether they drove it.

Yep, trying to read the badge I make out 318D with standard iDrive screen even though he harps on about pro media nav.

I just love this bit "but particularly thrifty buyers will want the 320d, which offers lower VED bands without too much of a performance hit."

I can vouch for that, it's fine I tried it. Test drive one , the car is brilliant, these write ups are mainly copied from other write ups and not many get to drive the actual cars.

Yeah I know I specifically bought the F30 because it can seat tall people in all the seats (maybe not the 5th seat), I'm 6 1 and can sit behind myself in comfort, but the other review (whatcar?)said it was tight in the back when a 6 2 person sits behind a 6 2 person.

At speed thereís barely any engine sound in the cabin, but tyre roar is apparent, as is a little wind noise.

Quote:

Itís fair to say that the BMW 330d Touring is an impressive and accomplished car.

What is rubbish about those comments? Virtually every review of the F30 has echoed similar thoughts on tyre and wind noise, something that was my criticism of the F30 I drove. Far too loud for the premium sector. So do we expect the comments to be different for the touring? Likely not, as its on basically the same platform.

330d engines are gruff, that has been the case for years, so is that a poor observation.

I just don't know what you guys want to hear and read?

If the comments were 'gushing' and full of superlatives, it would be harder to believe, wouldn't it?

Well the early cars had wind noise problems, windscreen trim and door seals were the causes, now cured, I have driven two saloons and have the 328i luxury touring on loan and NO wind noises.
Engines are "GRUFF" now IMO thats boll*cks.
Yes Can be heard on start up "diesel sound" once going no problem.

Well the early cars had wind noise problems, windscreen trim and door seals were the causes, now cured, I have driven two saloons and have the 328i luxury touring on loan and NO wind noises.

Engines are "GRUFF" now IMO thats boll*cks.
Yes Can be heard on start up "diesel sound" once going no problem.

Perhaps the wind noise ISN'T fully cured... that is a possibility. Tyre noise is definitely intrusive, very common complaint of the F30.

If you have found the BMW diesels aren't gruff, then you are in a different universe than me, I've never driven any 3.0d that isn't displaying typical diesel characteristics. They may be the best diesel engines out there, but diesel they still are, albeit they improve with each generation.

Perhaps we view engine refinement and the aural sounds in a different way.

I'm not criticising the diesel, as I am a diesel man at heart, (45-years of experience with diesel) but no way can they yet compare to the sweet, virtually vibration free petrol six. I back to back tested the F10 530d and 535i and there is no comparison on refinement. The 535i is still streets ahead on engine NVH.

The reviews I read when the F30 first came out were "best in class" and "the benchmark" etc.
Seems with the 330d reviews they write as if its "just another 3 series" but with a more powerful engine.

I think it would be safe to say the 3 series is one of the finest cars in the world in many aspects and the 330d engine has to be just about the best diesel engine in the world at present for performance and economy. And then they write these mediocre reviews? Anyone reading these kind of reviews wouldn't be exactly compelled to go out and buy one. Yes I don't doubt it is not perfect - no car is - but you would expect a more engaging and enthusiastic review of a virtually £40K car that is allegedly "best in class".

I accept these reviewers may be not be a fan of BMW of course, so you would not get such a great review if this was the case.

Dude. Seriously? Calling the new BMW diesels gruff is just being crass. It's a diesel. Saying it's a bit gruff compared to a petrol is nonsense and like saying that the clouds are a bit white compared to the sky. Besides, Direct Injection petrols sound every bit as gruff as a diesel nowadays. The new 30D is one of the very finest diesel engines I have ever heard and sounds way better than most petrol engines. is it as subtle as the equivalent 3 litre petrol from BMW? Of course not! But calling it gruff ... it's like saying that a really pretty girl is gruff compared to a supermodel or something

Perhaps the wind noise ISN'T fully cured... that is a possibility. Tyre noise is definitely intrusive, very common complaint of the F30.

If you have found the BMW diesels aren't gruff, then you are in a different universe than me, I've never driven any 3.0d that isn't displaying typical diesel characteristics. They may be the best diesel engines out there, but diesel they still are, albeit they improve with each generation.

Perhaps we view engine refinement and the aural sounds in a different way.

I'm not criticising the diesel, as I am a diesel man at heart, (45-years of experience with diesel) but no way can they yet compare to the sweet, virtually vibration free petrol six. I back to back tested the F10 530d and 535i and there is no comparison on refinement. The 535i is still streets ahead on engine NVH.

HighlandPete

like I said I am driving the touring 328i and wind / tyre noise is very low indeed, obviously engine noise is low also, but going by my 335D M Sport engine it's no way gruff or intrusive but I get were your coming from with it's "Sound", prohaps we are at slightly X purposes on this
Ether way I am longing to get mine, it went into build today so 4 weeks maximum to wait now.